Ukiah Police roundup

Three men were arrested Sunday after officers responded to a report of several people involved in a fight, the Ukiah Police Department reported.

According to the UPD, officers responded to the 300 block of Hastings Avenue shortly before 4:30 p.m. Jan. 6. When they arrived, they reportedly saw two men fighting, one of whom was holding a knife.

The suspect with the knife, identified as Elwood D. Hayes, 52, of Redding, was asked repeatedly to drop the knife, and when he refused to do so, officers used a Taser on him.

Both Hayes and the other man, identified as Billy M. Eaton, 53, of Ukiah, were reportedly drunk and had "significant facial injuries," but both claimed they had fallen while riding bicycles.

Both men were arrested on suspicion of being drunk and fighting in public. Officers later discovered Eaton had been stabbed in the side, but he refused to give a statement, and they are pursuing charges of assault with a deadly weapon against Hayes.

Another officer responding to the scene spoke with two people leaving the area, including a man who was reportedly "extremely intoxicated" and began to walk away despite being told not to.

The man, identified as Waylon E. Pickett, 28, of Ukiah, was taken into custody after reportedly trying to physically resist and yelling profanities at the officer. Pickett was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public and resisting arrest.

All three suspects were booked into Mendocino County Jail.

JC Penney's clerk arrested on suspicion of embezzlement

A Ukiah woman was arrested Tuesday for allegedly stealing from the store where she worked, the Ukiah Police Department reported.

According to the UPD, officers responded to J.C. Penney's on North Orchard Avenue at 1 p.m. Jan. 8 when it was reported that one of the employees had embezzled.

Officers learned that Mindy D. Pratt, 20, of Ukiah, had allegedly taken more than $1,000 cash from the store's registers in recent weeks and had recently taken a $300 gift card without paying for it.